Recruiting is a topic on which families, prospects, coaches
and others expend considerable resources, time and emotion.
Lacrosse Magazine will delve into many of the sub-topics involved
in a series of articles, augmented by personal stories from young
men and women that have recently completed or are in the midst of
the recruiting process.

Part Ten of the series provides some pregame prep for high school
juniors and sophomores engaging in the process. This article
appears in the November issue of LM. Don't get the mag? Join US Lacrosse
and its 300,000-plus members today to start your monthly
subscription.

Recruiting U: Peer Review with Kayleigh Hynes

I grew up in Albany, N.Y., where lacrosse is a very popular
sport.

Before my senior year of high school, my family and I moved to
Brentwood, Tenn., and I joined the Ravenwood lacrosse team. It was
a big adjustment going from somewhere that lacrosse was one of the
main sports, to a place where it was sanctioned as a club team. The
community’s emphasis on lacrosse wasn’t as prevalent as
it was up north, but everyone I talked to was really interested to
see the game played and become more knowledgeable. With the help of
my teammates and coaches, I was able to make All-Region, All-State,
and All-American my final year of high school. I was contacted by
various schools, but the University of Louisville stuck out the
most. When I came to campus, I was blown away by the facilities,
the coaches and, most of all, the girls on the team —
everything seemed like a great fit.

Ever since I was little, I have dreamed of playing Division I
lacrosse. I had heard stories from my friends telling me about
their experience playing at such a high level, so I knew that it
was going to be a challenge. Time management was the biggest
adjustment for me, because you spend so much time on the field, at
lifting and in meetings that lacrosse becomes your life. And
it’s hard to fit schoolwork and social activities into the
mix. It’s a lot different from high school, but I love it. My
best friends are on this team, and with the amount of time we spend
together on and off the field, they feel more like family.

College lacrosse is a huge change from high school. In high school
you have the select group of standout players who help carry the
team, but in college everyone is good. And everyone on your team
expects you to play your hardest each and every day. It’s
important to hold yourself and your teammates accountable to strive
to be the best. It ends up that everything you do on the field is
for your team, not you as an individual.

I haven’t declared a major yet, but I’m leaning toward
a major in sports administration. I’m not sure what I want to
be when or if I ever grow up, but, no matter what I would like to
coach youth lacrosse in areas of the country that don’t have
the opportunities for good coaching that I have had. Thanks to my
parents driving me to what felt like every tournament, every
weekend I was able to fulfill my childhood dream.

Some advice that I’d like to give high school players is,
start early. Look as many places as you can as soon as you can.
It’s important to get yourself out there as much as possible
so that you are able to go to the school that’s perfect for
you, especially if you live in a location that’s not as well
known for lacrosse. Also the most important thing is to make sure
that you love the team, they are going to be your best friends that
you stay in touch with forever.

Always take a good look at the coaching staff, because they will
ultimately affect the style and play of the team. Their knowledge
of the game is key to the future success of your team. At the
University of Louisville, Kellie Young, Lisa Staedt, and Matt
Lawicki are always looking for new ways to better the program,
making us students of the game. In our first NCAA year, we were
able to make it to the Big East tournament, and they are constantly
challenging us to overcome adversity and take our program to the
next level, not to dwell on past accomplishments.

— Kayleigh Hynes is a sophomore attacker at the
University of Louisville.